The annual "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions launched recently.

The other day, the following overseas preliminary competitions for different grades of students opened one after another, including the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students, the 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign Secondary School Students and the 2nd Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students. The competitors expressed their passion for Chinese language through their brilliant performance and touching speeches.

The 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students in the Fiji Division was held in Suva, the capital of Fiji. One competitor gives a speech in Chinese during the competition. Photo by Zhang Yongxing, Xinhua

An increasing number of overseas teenagers participate in the competition.

During the 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign Secondary School Students in the UK, 112 competitors from 63 secondary schools across the UK took part in the individual competition. In the individual competition, some competitors shared their experience in learning Chinese poetry; some talked about their views on historical figures like Zhuge Liang, the famous outstanding prime minister of Kingdom Shu of Han during Three Kingdoms period; and some described the challenges they encountered when learning Chinese pronunciation. More than 100 competitors who participated in the group competition applied their understanding of Chinese language and culture into their informative works.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Zhang Jin, Minister of Education at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, said that the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition attracts many British secondary school students who love Chinese language and culture. The students' fluent Chinese and rich knowledge were impressive, and the minister of education hoped they would become ambassadors of Sino-British friendship in the future.

Indeed, the "Chinese Bridge" competition is attracting more and more overseas youths to participate. According to the data, since the implementation of the "Chinese Bridge" program, it has covered more than 160 countries, invited over 170,000 youths to participate in summer camp groups to experience Chinese language and culture in China. The program has attracted more than 1.5 million young people to participate in the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students and "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign Secondary School Students. In recent years, hundreds of millions of people around the world have participated in and paid much attention to the "Chinese Bridge" program each year. The enthusiastic participation of the competitors in each division of the competition demonstrated this point.

One competitor shows his talents at the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students held in Palae, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo by Nedim Boragvica, Xinhua

The 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students and the 2nd Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students in the Czech Republic, organized by the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic and hosted by the Chinese International School of Prague, coincided with the "June 1" International Children's Day. In his speech, Zhang Maoming, Chargé affairs of the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic, said that the "Chinese Bridge" competition in the Czech Republic has attracted numerous young people and parents, which fully reflects their enthusiasm for Chinese language and interest in Chinese culture.

This enthusiasm was also present in the Kyrgyzstan competition, where the competitors not only shared their Chinese learning experience, or expressed their love for Chinese language and culture, or talked about their interests in Chinese scenery and food, but also showed their understanding and love for Chinese culture.

Building the bridge to China and Chinese language dreams

For many competitors of the "Chinese Bridge" competition, the "Chinese Bridge" is not only a bridge of language, culture, soul and friendship, but also a bridge to China and the realization of their dreams.

Looking back on Chinese learning journey, Lucía García Díaz from Spanish, who won the 14th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, said, "All the Chinese characters I have learned have become my eyes to some degree, taking me to the bridge of Chinese. From then on, China was no longer a distant country on the map; I began to see China developing fast. The 'Chinese Bridge' not only built a bridge to my dream, but also built a bridge of hope for me."

Aya Ibrahim Mohamed, who just participated in this year's "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Egypt and won the Grand Prize, is a senior student of the Chinese Department at Cairo University and has been interested in Chinese culture since she was a child. "Though the period of the 'Chinese Bridge' competition is not very long, it is a very important part in my life. In the competition, I gained knowledge and friendship and improved my language skills." Aya Ibrahim Mohammed said, "My connection with Chinese has given me a richer spiritual world and a better version of myself, and I look forward to studying Chinese culture and history in the future."

As Dai Bo, the principal of the Chinese International School of Prague, said, the "Chinese Bridge" competition has become an important platform for Chinese language learners from all over the world to learn Chinese, understand China and experience Chinese culture, builing a bridge between the youth of China and the overseas young people.

Through this "bridge", the competitors have sowed the seeds of their dreams, opened the window to China, and connected China with the world.

"As a platform to promote language and cultural exchange, the "Chinese Bridge" tournament has served as an incentive for local students to learn Chinese, improve their Chinese language skills, and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. " Zu Lina said. She is Vice-Chancellor at the University of Malaya in charge of international affairs and her above view is exactly the view of many overseas experts. (cited from Center for Language Education and Cooperation, source from People's Daily Overseas Edition)